Legislative Ethics Board Advisory Opinions

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Type
Advisory Opinion
Date
2/28/2001
Number
00-04
Topic
Press Releases - Use of Public Resources
Issue/Question

The Board rephrased a request for an advisory opinion and provided a list of issues for discussion.  Generally, the Board discussed the relationship between legislative policies and the Ethics Act, press releases, and whether different standards under the Act were available to party leadership.

Summary

Press releases are judged by: (1) their timeliness; (2) proximity to an election; (3) relevance to a legislative issue; (4) source of the initial statement, if a responsive press release; and (5) tone and tenor of the proposed release.  RCW 42.52.180.  Board concluded that the Act does not suggest that legislative leaders have more authority under the Act than other legislators.




Document
Review Outcome and Date
Retired - July 2022. See Advisory Opinion 2021 - No. 1 & Advisory Opinion 2020 - No. 1